There appears to be no process for continuing engagement with the community inc important local experts like Hedley Thompson (Railway Heritage), Susan Fayed (Heritage Urban Landscape) and others. The focus on commercial enterprise is so short-sighted. 

Ballarat struggles for 100% occupancy during big events. We have large venues though sell-outs are rare. Employment models for these proposals are low return and short term when compared to others. Core business at the Railway Station is public & goods transport, we ignore that at our peril. It is a place of activity, colour and movement and needs to reflect the needs of our community, in all its guises. Cultural pursuits are crucial to this activity and to the future of the precinct as engaging with residents and visitors alike. 

This city's heritage provides many clues as to a future that is inclusive of who we are as people and who we wish to be. Heritage and culture are a heady mix of unique opportunities for this city in both community and commercial senses.

As Paul Keating recently said; nothing great is ever derivative. Our city cannot be great by being derivative, nor in this case by being backward looking. This important precinct cannot be left in the hands of state government subsidised private sector alone. We need bold thinking, grand plans and above all unique responses to the burgeoning cultural shift we are attempting here in our beautiful unique city.

Erin McCuskey, Ballarat

While the build-up to Christmas is a busy period for every workplace, it should never be a dangerous one.

And yet, according to WorkSafe statistics, more Victorian workers die in the eight-week period before Christmas than at any other time of the year.

We know that many businesses are rushing to finish projects so deadline pressures may be a factor. And we know that that many fatalities involve experienced workers doing routine jobs, particularly on farms, so maybe their minds aren't fully on the task at hand.

But the simple fact is that every workplace fatality is preventable. If employers have the safe systems in place to protect their workers, if people stop to plan each day with safety in mind,

and if everyone works together to identify and eliminate or reduce risks, then workplace fatalities can be prevented.

The upcoming Christmas holidays should be a time of joy. It should not be a time families are mourning the loss of a loved one who has died at work.  So please, everyone, take time every day to make workplace safety your absolute priority.

Marnie Williams, Executive director, WorkSafe Victoria

Australia might have a case for turning its back on Middle Eastern refugees if it had clean hands – but it doesn't. For most of this century, Australia, along with its American and British allies have sought to intervene in the Middle East most notably when they invaded Iraq in 2003. Iraq has been a smoking ruin ever since. Hundreds of thousands of its citizens have died from suicide bombers and other atrocities. Even Tony Blair acknowledges that this ill-conceived adventure (with no exit strategy) has led to Middle Eastern turmoil and played a major role in the rise of Islamic State. In other words, Australia helped create the terror from which the refugees are fleeing. In these circumstances, it would seem unfair for Australia to deny a place in the stable for those in need.

Mike Reddy, Curtin